Very smooth ride for such a small vehicle with only a 96.3-inch wheelbase. Very little harshness comes back into the cabin. And the suspension and steering systems work in harmony to provide pinpoint accuracy when it comes to handling on the straightaways and in corners and turns–even at speed.
The 3-liter, 24-valve 6-cylinder is very peppy, though it’s too bad the 5-speed manual is a tad hesitant and notchy. The fuel economy rating, well, you don’t buy a Z3 for mileage, though the 21 m.p.g. city/28 m.p.g. highway is very good.
But the drawback is that it is ugly and misshapen. If it was your kid, you’d buy it a mask. Motorists who spotted the Z3 coupe did double takes, and not the admiring kind.
Base price: $37,700.
The much more stylish open-top Z3 roadster, by comparison, starts at $31,945 to $38,345, depending on whether it has 2.5-liter or 3-liter 6-cylinder engines.
